“SHE NEEDS TO BE IN JAIL” — Internet Reacts to Nicki Minaj’s Call-Out of Kelsey Nicole for Unauthorized Sneaker Modeling

Earlier this month, a striking image surfaced on the official Instagram account of @theshaderoom featuring Kelsey Nicole showcasing the “Løci”shoe line from Nicki Minaj. The accompanying caption read:

“Okayy ‘Nikki Approved!’ #KelseyNicole models for #NickiMinaj shoe collection ‘Løci’.”

On October 7, the renowned “Barbie World”artist Nicki Minaj expressed her displeasure on X (formerly Twitter), criticizing Nicole for the post. She emphasized that Nicole was not officially linked to the shoe collection, despite having participated in a promotional photoshoot. In her tweet, Minaj stated:

“The fact that @TheShadeRoom posted this LIE 5 days ago & I’m just now finding out. chiiiiii LOL!!!!!!! I love being booked & busy. ‘Models for my collection’? 😩 She posted a photo in my sneakers. Neither me nor my company knew anything about it until she put it up.”

This exchange quickly captured the attention of fans online, with some suggesting that Kelsey removed the image from her own account amid the backlash. Social media exploded with various opinions on the topic.

Highlighted below are some notable reactions on X:

A fan reacted to Kelsey's photoshoot (Photo via @sleezeSTAN/X) — A fan reacted to Kelsey’s photoshoot (Photo via @sleezeSTAN/X)

One user commented:

“Girl, I thought Kelsey was a model for the brand. Did she ever say she wasn’t? Seems like she played into it, and now everyone is pointing fingers at her.”

“Wait… we all thought she was being compensated for modeling those shoes…”added another user.

“Kelsey knew exactly what she was doing posing as a model with that over-the-top photoshoot,”another netizen remarked.

Despite the criticism directed at Kelsey, she also garnered support from her defenders. Many argued that the fault lay with the media for misrepresenting the narrative rather than with Nicole herself. One supporter stated:

“It’s not her fault that the media distorted the story. Let’s not blame Kelsey. 😕.”

“We all knew she wasn’t getting paid. Nicki never mentioned her or shared her post,”pointed out another user.

“Does this mean I modeled for the brand if I just post a picture wearing their products?”inquired another user.

Numerous Celebrities Show Support for Nicki Minaj’s Løci Collection

Løci, a premium sneaker and apparel brand, was established in 2020 by London-based entrepreneurs Frank Eribo and Philippe Homsy. In April of this year, Nicki Minaj partnered with Løci, resulting in the “Nicki Minaj x LØCI”collection.

This collaboration features 11 unique unisex shoe designs crafted from bio leather, accompanied by a logo honoring Minaj. The sneakers are priced between $185 and $200. Nicki took to Instagram in March 2024 to unveil the new line.

In addition to Nicki, a host of other stars such as Leonardo DiCaprio, Sophie Turner, Mila Kunis, Jessica Alba, Lucy Hale, Kylie Jenner, and Robert Downey Jr. have expressed their admiration for the sneakers.

Notably, Nicki is not the only celebrity collaborating with Løci; DiCaprio joined the brand as an investor this year. Despite being a relatively new entrant in the market, Løci has rapidly gained recognition and popularity over the years.

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